Really nice to get to live in America

Dear Family and Friends,

Today has been long, productive, effective, meaningful, safe and emotionally satisfying. It started at 6 am, out the door at 6:40, arrive in Petaluma at 8:35, register, part with $92.50 for fees, eat bagel, find place in room with 60 appraisers, listen and learn about the REO process, that is foreclosures. At 12:10 the meeting was over and I found a Burger King and a vegeburger. Then I set the GPS for Suisun City and 45 minutes later pulled up beside the home. This one was worn a bit but not too bad, unlock 4 front door locks, inspect, measure, photograph and then sit in the car and pick comps. Drive the comps and photograph each. Then it was time to set the GPS for a Richmond address. I arrived there early and enjoyed a very pleasant visit, loved the house which was so clean and updated, shot comps, set GPS for home and set out at 4 pm. I arrived home at 5:35 after working my way through accidents, firetrucks, traffic, you know the normal stuff.

As I walked in I could tell something good was happening. Marilyn had whipped together some great food and it was so fun to just sit with her and eat and enjoy the flavors of asparagus, green beans, mushrooms, vege chicken pieces, cottage cheese. A feast! Then Keanna and Kallie arrived and Nikki went to the parent teacher event at the school and we got the kids for awhile. I made pasta for Keanna along with green beans and some bottled water, Marilyn held Kallie, fed her, changed her and they exchanged smiles. When Nikki came back I went to the grief group, now I'm home to finally collapse and relax.

Tomorrow is the day to tidy up a bit so you will have a place to sit when you come to visit on Sunday, so the spa will be cleaner, the deck will be safer and the family photos will be removed from the dining room table, the fish tank will have less algae, the plants in the front yard are trimmed back, lawn mowed. Yep, I should have enough to keep me busy tomorrow, oh and write some appraisals too.

So good night from here, life in America is so special, a country that loves freedom and makes it work pretty well. I've been to lots of other countries and loved everyone of them but I've always been glad to come back to the good old USA. We all should be very grateful for the opportunity to live, work and prosper here.

love to all, Sunday's open house is going to be fun, bring your best conversation and lets talk and learn from each other.

Tim

ps fresh photos of our girls taken yesterday morning, so cute. Thanks Nikki for sharing them.

Getting things done

Dear Family and Friends,
9:35 and I'm soon to bed. I need to leave at 6:30 in the morning for Petaluma for a meeting of the North Bay of Appraisers where a speaker will present a seminar on appraising REO, foreclosed homes and how to find REO appraisal business. The meeting starts at 9 and will be over at noon. Then I drive to Suisun City to do a FHA purchase for just $187,000. Then to Richmond to do a FHA reverse mortgage inspection, then beat it home to help with Keanna, Marilyn is on standby in case I don't get back on time. Then to Grief Group at 7. It will be a big day with lots of driving.

In anticipation of that this afternoon Marilyn and I took the bug to the SpeeDee in Tracy where they know the car, had the correct oil and enjoy working on it. They were done with the work before 6 and then we visited the Dunstons where a delicious meal was served. What a feast, now if I could prepare a meal like that I would be very happy indeed. At 7 we drove over to the church where I met with some guys to practice a bit, then to CostCo for needed items for the Sunday afternoon open house here at Willow Lake court, then home through road work. The bug just hummed quietly along with fresh oil, radiator fans which now work, engine noise silencer back in place. Now we have opened up the house to let in fresh air, fed the fish, the dogs, the cats.

I'm looking forward to seeing many of you on Sunday, just to sit down and talk for a minute or two, to eat together and to enjoy the lake as the sun sets. I can't think of a nicer way to welcome being 60.

I hope your world is revolving as you desire it to and that God is blessing you just right.

Good night by friends and family,

love

tim

Lunch with Nikki, Marilyn, Kallie

Dear Friends and Family,

8:35, getting an early start tonight so Barbie can go to bed at at decent hour!

This morning I did NOT walk, rather I chose to complete an appraisal that was needed early today as the people were leaving for the midwest. Even at that it took me past noon to get it completed and emailed to the lender. While I was out shooting photos of comparable sales Nikki called to invite me to lunch. She had picked up Marilyn early (9 am) this morning and they had been shopping around. So we had lunch at Aladinos, a local pizza place with an excellent salad bar, lots of tasty veges. The Marilyn moved over to my car and we shot more photos of comparables and came home to work. She watched the last of her soap, as the world jerks or something like that and worked on Nan's desk sorting piles of copies of written checks. It is so nice to have someone here at the desk working, just very different not to be alone, very nice. during the afternoon I dozed a bit in my chair and am just about completed with another appraisal. This evening we stopped working and drove to Brentwood to pick up a check for the appraisal I was working on. Then we went to find Cold Stone for a bit of icecream but not finding it I called Nikki. She said, Dad, they closed a long time ago and you do not need ice cream! She was right. Jason also called to check in and let me know he can't come on Sunday as that is registration day for MBA where every student counts. I totally understand and promised we would come down soon to visit them and catch up with Timothy who is very close to walking now.

Once again this morning the blood level sugar wise was in the normal range. Thank goodness for the new meter and its more accurate reading. Sure helps me feel better about myself and my health.

I'm including a photo of the sunset this evening. It was brilliant. Hope the photo catches it.

I'm starting to hear back about Sunday and I look forward to seeing everyone that can come and relax by the lake. I hope the weather is decent, not too hot. I think most of the action will start about 5 or so but you are welcome to come earlier, thats up to you. It does help when you let us know if you can come or not, helps us know how to plan but if the last minute allows you to come, please do. I doubt anyone will be hungry.

Take care my friends and family,

love

tim

Nice visit with Lanza's

Dear Family and Friends,
10:10, cool breeze starting to blow through, good day overall. Ken and I walked this morning, then Marilyn and I worked through papers with Marilyn doing her sorting magic on the stacks. I had an appraisal in Livermore and met the nicest guy, he lost his wife Dec. 29. He is coping well and is so organized, has all cards and letters in books, everything has its place, great visit and oh yes I did an appraisal too. Nikki calls it the appraiser / pastor visit. While I was working in Livermore Nikki and the girls came to visit which was a nice change for Marilyn. Earlier Ray and Lois came by briefly.
After I left Livermore I drove to the Lanza's in Tracy. They were busy working on a project and had agreed to sew up a new bimini top for the paddle boat, the current one is showing the weather. Ray had removed it so I could take it for a pattern for the new one. It is always good to catch up with Dick and Becky, some of the worlds nicest people. Then I drove to the Speedee Oil place for the bug to get new oil but today they were out of the right oil and no one had it in all of Tracy so I drove home.
Marilyn whipped up haystacks which were so excellent and filled with flavor. Then we drove to Antioch and inspected a home which is newly purchased from a bank. It was in good condition and the comps were all on the street. Then home for a successful ending to a great day. Since the work was done on the bug it has been so pleasant to drive. The engine no longer overheats, the AC blows cold and constant and the new cabin air filter allows for much more air flow than before, a nice new addition.
There are so many things to be thankful for and I feel like I am surrounded by many of them, first off Keanna, Kallie, Timothy. These precious little people just fill ones heart with love and joy. I am deeply thankful for excellent neighbors who enhance my life so much. I love to get to talk to Pam or Sharon or Dana or Dolly or Nikki, Steve, Jason and Jo. I am so touched by the constant email messages that encourage and lift me day by day.
Several people have let us know that they can join the party this Sunday afternoon to help me into the next decade. I think we can handle preparing both vege foods and hamburgers to put on the BBQ and will probably be eating about 5:30 or 6. For those who might want to play in the lake or use the paddle boat in you are young or have little ones please bring life jackets. There will be plenty of places to sit by the lake on the rear decks either in the sun or the shade or inside where it is cool. I think I can have the spa working too and I know kids sometimes enjoy playing in it with their parents. We hope you feel comfortable bringing anything you think might enhance the party, fruit, salads, treats. There is no agenda, just fellowship and fun. We will hope and pray for a cool evening with breezes coming up as the sun sets over the island and the palm trees.
For now I'm ready for bed. As I was talking to the gentleman at the home in Livermore today he mentioned that he never sleeps under the blankets now, just uses a little army blanket. Said he just can't since there is no one to snuggle with. Going to bed and waking up present some of the toughest times of loneliness when you lose someone. Seems those times are usually times people enjoy small talk with the one they love and they seem so empty when you find yourself there alone. So lets make this positive, I encourage you to enjoy those special times together when you get to talk away from anyone else and with no distractions. Enjoy!

Love to all,

tim

Sunday evening and life seems well worth living!

Good evening,

I'm unwinding from a busy day. Ken and I walked this morning, then I inspected a local property here in the bay. The people were so nice the inspection took a long time. Then I worked some cleaning up my desk, Marilyn started working through Nan's desk and computer. Eventually I drove to Safeway with a couple gas cans and purchased some liquid gold (gas) for the boat. Then Ray and Lois joined Marilyn and me where we put the gas into the boat and water and went out for the circle route, down Old River, across by the Berkeley ski club village, up the twin sloughs, stopped at Union Point for a brief break and then on home. Lois was busy taking photos of the water and sunset. I have included a couple photos here. Marilyn seemed to enjoy herself and it was almost dark when we got back. Marilyn cut up more fruit and we feasted on outstanding peaches and strawberries. For lunch we decided to try a local place that has suffered under a couple owners but now has a new name and delicious salads. It is right by the water and you can see boats come and go while you eat under a shaded awning. The meal turned out really tasty.

Now Marilyn is reading and I am pushing keys on this computer. After a week of ups and downs things have leveled out and the new week looks promising.

Dolly shipped me a book which I am just enjoying so much about positive attitudes and I am reading chapters at a time. I really appreciate the book and its help for me right now.

So I'm wishing each of you a positive week. As some of you know this is the week when I turn the big 60. I'm sort of thinking it would be fun to get together here at the house next Saturday or Sunday in the afternoon with the BBQ going, the paddle boat at ready, perhaps even the spa might be cleaned and ready for sitters. Let me know what you think. No I'm not trying really interested in receiving presents other than the enjoyment of your presence for awhile in the afternoon. I've not shared my home at all since December and I think that is certainly understandable but I also think its time to open the doors and share some fun and fellowship, come meet my great neighbors if they can come and help me move into the next decade of my life. I also understand that you all live busy lives but I'd like your input on what day you think might be best and any other ideas you might have.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Marilyn is here

Dear Family and Friends,
As long last Marilyn has arrived. We got back to the house about 1 this morning and by 2 I was asleep. Then at 6:30 I got up and walked with Ken. Then back for a quick breakfast and over to pick up Keanna. Marilyn stayed with Nikki and Keanna and I went to Sabbath School. Then to lunch at the old Olive Garden and then Keanna went to a birthday party and Marilyn and I came home to rest up a bit. Marilyn just prepared a yummy dinner with sheet, french bread, fresh apples, peaches, nectarines and strawberries. It was a feast. I have a loaf of bread baking and I think we'll both turn in early tonight to continue the catching up process in rest.

I am certainly pleased and appreciative of the ladies that make the Sabbath School work so well in Tracy. They are there week after week always prepared and do a great job of leading out for the little ones. What a great first impression these little ones will have of the church, Jesus and our Heavenly Father.

Tomorrow I plan to ask for Marilyn's help with sorting papers and getting ready for the next phase of the tax process. I have an appraisal locally at 10:30 which I will get written soon and then on Monday I have an appointment in Livermore to see a property. For these things I am thankful.

I appreciate the messages that are written to the blog and the personal ones too. I'm looking forward to meeting our friend in Benicia one of these days and I'm always very pleased to hear from Bob and Carrol and Roger and Carol.

So I bid you a peaceful goodnight. Love to my precious children, their children, to our extended family and to our friends who mean so much.

love

tim

An interesting day

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this has been a pretty good day, a welcome relief after yesterday with its low points.

I slept in until 7:30 this morning, rose slowly and then walked the lake route by myself. But I had the joy of conversations with Nikki and Sylvia. Both were so upbeat and encouraging, helpful and a real boost to morale. While I was walking a fire truck passed with sirens and red lights active. In a bit I came upon the truck parked in the street and they were working on someone in the front seat of a cab in front of a house. I'm reminded that people all around are facing challenges, some are terrible. Life is very uncertain. After I arrived home I watered the tomato plants and flowers, prepared a slab of wheat toast with a slim layer of peanut butter, had some stripples and applesauce. Later in the morning I made one of those discoveries that are not very earth shaking but still will have an effect on life. As you know Nan and I enjoyed drinking the mocha that is sold at CostCo. The mix comes in a large can and the data on the side says each drink contains 100 calories and 10 grams of sugar. Today I read the can more carefully. For all these years I have been preparing my drink using two teaspoons of power but as I was reading I was amazed to notice that the formula called for 2 tablespoons of powder. That is a huge difference so I've been drinking drink made with 1/2 what they suggest is the idea mix for a 8 ounce drink. Well I like it fine with teaspoons and will continue to drink it that way but was pleased that I'm used to it on the thin side. I wonder if Sharon knows this and the others who also enjoy the drink.

After a good shower I settled into my comfortable work chair and wrote an appraisal for the inspection I conducted last evening. At about 2:30 I finished and emailed it out to the lender and then received a new order for a property in Livermore, then this evening yet another order arrived for a FHA purchase. These are very precious, like life blood and I am very thankful for each and every one of these orders especially in times like these where everyone in our business is struggling to just try to stay alive financially. This afternoon I discovered I had about $2.00 in the bank after all the current charges had settled in and by monday I'll be at least $700 behind again. Of course by then I'll be paid for the appraisal on Sunday and perhaps something will come in the mail. Talk about living close to the edge.

This evening I am about to leave for the Oakland airport where at 11:30 Marilyn will arrive from Rhode Island. She has been in the air all day and is flying here now from Chicago. How glad we both will be for her safe arrival. It is something we have been planning for and hoping for and its now to come true.

This afternoon I drove to Brentwood to have an x ray done of my lungs. Last time the lady that did it was very lovely and made the whole process sort of extra fun, not so today. It was a guy and in 30 seconds I was in and out. Bummer. Then I drove to Longs. Over the years I have been paying over $100 for the strips I use to test the blood sugar levels in my body. Blue Cross Insurance refused to cover the costs of the strips for the machine I had, so in light of how hard it is to come up with an extra $100 I decided to see what Blue Cross had in mind and today I picked up a new test kit (free) and strips, my cost $10. I think I can adjust to a new machine for the $90 savings. Also after hearing from so many of you regarding the weight coach I decided to forgo the $500 plan at least for now and resort to Weight Watchers and to using a pedometer that Sylvia is letting me use. I'm told that I need to get in 10,000 steps per day, at least I think thats what I've been told, correct me if I'm nuts on the number. I will also start keeping a journal of everything I eat, I'd like to be using my phone like Karen Cress does, hers' lets her keep track right in the phone, amazing really. One way or another this weight will come down. In celebration of the upcoming weight program Nikki and I had dinner at UNO's tonight. But I had a salad with some low calorie vingerette, tasted fine and a flat bread pizza filled with tomatos, spinach, dry cheese and olives. It tasted good and I ended up leaving nearly half of it there as I was full. Progress! Nikki left some of hers too.

Now I'm just killing time until its time to leave for the airport and of course having the pleasure of your company through the blog. I'm sure we could talk about your week and discover ups and downs therein. I know I've sure had some ups and some downs. I'm continually amazed by the depth of the love for Nan that continues to warm my heart. She truely was God's gift to me, to this family and to the world around her. He knew what He was doing when He created her and I sure hope He knew what He was doing when He allowed her to rest. Someday we'll get the rest of the story.. for now we just all miss her deeply and continually.

Good night my friend, my family. Because of you I am blessed more than I deserve!

love

tim

ps I've included two very different photos tonight, one is of Nikki and Keanna at a happy moment at dinner tonight, the other is of the cabin air filter that was replaced in my bug this week. Have you replaced your cabin air filter? You might want to consider it....